State rankings

Best States for Camping

Rhode Island has the highest Overall Camping Rating (1-10) (7.09), followed by Utah (6.85) and Maryland (6.79). Wyoming has the lowest (3.81).

Travel50 states · 13 metricsUpdated Jun 10, 2024Original page
3 sources
50 of 51 states
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Overall Camping Rating (1-10)

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
5.73
Middle half 5.23 – 6.16
Average
5.67
50 states
Highest
7.09
Rhode Island
Lowest
3.81
Wyoming

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Overall Camping Rating (1-10)
#
1Rhode Island7.09East Beach, Charlestown
2Utah6.85Devils Garden Campground, Arches National Park
3Maryland6.79Assateague State Park
4New Hampshire6.7Pawtuckaway State Park
5New Mexico6.64Gallo Campground at Chaco Canyon
6Minnesota6.57Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
7Colorado6.52Piñon Flats Campground, Great Sand Dunes National Park
8South Carolina6.49Edisto River Treehouses
9Texas6.38Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park
9Vermont6.38Smuggler’s Notch State Park Campground
11Virginia6.32Big Meadow Campground, Shenandoah National Park
12Massachusetts6.22Boston Harbor Islands
13New York6.17Camp Orenda
14Maine6.14Flood’s Cove
15New Jersey6.1Worthington State Forest Campground, Delaware Water Gap
16Oklahoma6.07Chickasaw National Recreation Area
17Wisconsin6.03Apostle Islands National Seashore
18Michigan6.01Chapel Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
19Arizona5.98Havasupai Campground, Havasupai Reservation
20Connecticut5.96White Memorial Conservation Center
21Arkansas5.95Buffalo National River
22Oregon5.91Cape Blanco State Park
23West Virginia5.86Thorny Mountain Fire Tower, Seneca State Forest
24Missouri5.79Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park
25Washington5.73Second Beach, Olympic National Park
26South Dakota5.72Blue Bell Campground, Custer State Park
27Iowa5.64Maquoketa Caves State Park
28Kentucky5.57Daniel Boone National Forest
29Nebraska5.54Fort Robinson State Park
30Alabama5.52Outpost at Gulf State Park
31Alaska5.51Bartlett Cove Campground, Glacier Bay National Park
32Delaware5.5Cape Henlopen State Park
33Pennsylvania5.39Cherry Springs State Park
34Georgia5.38Cloudland State Park
35Ohio5.36Hocking Hills State Park
36North Dakota5.31Juniper Campground, Theodore Roosevelt National Park
37Louisiana5.29Lake Bistineau State Park
38Illinois5.21Starved Rock State Park Campground
39Florida5.14Cayo Costa State Park
40Kansas5.05Wilson State Park
41Mississippi5.02Davis Bayou Campground, Gulf Islands National Seashore
42Tennessee4.91Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
42Hawaii4.91Malaekahana Beach Campground
44California4.78Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
45North Carolina4.71Big Creek Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
46Idaho4.66Point Campground
47Indiana4.5Brown County State Park
48Nevada4.35Arch Rock Campground, Valley of Fire State Park
49Montana4.14Many Glacier Campground, Glacier National Park
50Wyoming3.81Jenny Lake Campground, Grand Teton National Park

What correlates with Overall Camping Rating (1-10)?

Pearson r against 2,103 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Overall Camping Rating (1-10) tend to score higher on these

  1. % Fully VaxxedVaccination Rates by State
    r = +0.51 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. Avg. Internet SpeedAverage Internet Speed by State
    r = +0.48 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  3. % of Pop. with Graduate or Professional DegreeMost Educated U.S. States
    r = +0.47 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  4. % That Received Updated BoosterVaccination Rates by State
    r = +0.47 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Average Gun Job PayBest States for Gun Owners
    r = +0.46 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
    r = +0.43 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Overall Camping Rating (1-10) tend to score lower on these

  1. Motorhome LengthMaximum RV Length by State
    r = −0.57 · strong · n = 48
    Plot
  2. Compulsory School AgeAge to Start Kindergarten by State
    r = −0.50 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  3. % of Registered RepublicansRegistered Voters by Party
    r = −0.46 · moderate · n = 30
    Plot
  4. Female Prisoner RatePrison Population by State
    r = −0.45 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Average Used Car PriceUsed Car Prices by State
    r = −0.45 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Exp. Sexual Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State
    r = −0.44 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Overall Camping Rating (1-10)?
Rhode Island has the highest Overall Camping Rating (1-10), at 7.09, followed by Utah (6.85) and Maryland (6.79).
Which state has the lowest Overall Camping Rating (1-10)?
Wyoming has the lowest Overall Camping Rating (1-10), at 3.81.
What is the median Overall Camping Rating (1-10) across US states?
The median is 5.73 across the 50 US states with data.
Where does this best states for camping data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: U.S. National Parks by State - National park Trips; Best U.S. States for Camping - Insure My Trip; The Best Place to Camp in Each of the 50 States - Travel + Leisure.